Quote Originally Posted by Photo-John
Here it goes - image quality is overrated. You can quote me on that. I'm comfortable with it.

There are too many people on the Web comparing images at 100% and declaring one camera better than another because they can see more noise on one on the computer screen. That's a nice comparison, but it shouldn't be the only way we evaluate cameras. If it was, we'd should all still be using large format view cameras. I prefer to compare with 8.5x11 prints. A lot of the noise you see at 100% on the computer is just irellevant in a normal viewing environment. And noise isn't necessarily even a bad thing. We are fixated on it, not really thinking about whether it's really an issue. Good picture-taking is a real issue. Noise sometimes is, and sometimes isn't.

As for the Olympus E-510, it's a wonderfully compact and light body. Add the reach and quality of the Zuiko lenses and you have something special. Does it have more noise than the Canon XTi / 400D? Sure. Does I regret using it for any photos? Not at all.

I also think that most photographers will be better served by trading a little image quality for built-in image stabilization like the Pentax, Sony, and Olympus DSLRs have. That image stabilization will ensure better photos for them where image quality will not. Who cares about noise if your photos are blurred from camera shake?

There's a little op-ed from Photo-John :-D
LOL! I have stated here before that IQ is not the holy grail. But if I'm going to pay that much for a DSLR, I really don't want something on the bottom end of IQ. My P&S Panny has a bit more noise than other similiar cameras: but it only cost me $235!

Notice that the other problems had nothing to do with IQ. Dynamic range is slowing being increased in other cameras, Olympus actually reduced theirs! That is not something I see as a plus. The viewfinder coming off the small sensor is dim, how is that a good thing?

On another web site (gads!), Oly Owners are saying things such as "High ISO is not very useful anyway." "I've got LiveView so the eyepiece is irrelevent." "Low DR? You shouldn't be shooting in conditions that need more DR."

I really don't care who buys the E-510, it ain't my money! But any manufacturer can add whiz-bang features. However, the fundamentals have to be sound to make those features worthwhile.

Oh yeah... IS is the greatest invention since chocolate. In camera does OK but lens-based makes the system match the lens more effectively. Not a deal breaker by any means and most users probably can't tell the difference. But in-camera IS is not the only nor necessarily the best answer.